Fuse assembly machine



Jan, 23, w45. P. v. D1 cosMo ETAL 2,367,672 l FUSE ASSEMBLY MACHINE 3 SheetS-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1941 INVENTORS Ptlsqnule V. DiEnamn BY 3 Muhew C Hcnurdi wwwa( ATTO EYs Jang 23, 1945 P. v. DI cosMo ETAL FUSE ASSEMBLY MACHINE Filed sept. 5, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Jan. 23, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE FUSE ASSEZZZMACHIISIE A Dover, N. Je Application September 5, 1941, Serial No. 409,688

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928;]3701 O.. G. 757) 2 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manuia'ctured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon. g

This invention relates to'an assembling device, and more particularly to a machine for assenii bling a pair of threaded components to the opposite ends of a threaded body.

An object of this invention is to provide an accurate reliable machine for quickly assembling threaded articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safe, fast machine for assembling threaded ordnance articles which are loaded with an explosive.

The specic nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of the assembling device with the guard members broken away to show details of construction,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational View of the drive mechanism and the work holding fixtures with portions in section for clearer illustration,

Fig. 3 is a plan view vof the lower chuck or work holder,

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the lower chuck on the lined-4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectionalI view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the upper portion of the lower chuck,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 showing details of the upper chuck,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1 7 ci Fig. 2 showing additional chuck details,

Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the upper chuck with parts in sectionk for clearer illustration,

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of the body holding fixture,

' Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view. of the body holding 'xture as seen from the side of the machine, I

Fig. 11 is an elevational View vwith parts in section of the components of a threaded workV piece which is being assembled in the machine, and

Fig. 12 is a bottom plan View of the assembled work piece.

In the drawings, an electric motor I having a vertical drive shaft 2' extending from both ends is-secured to a, column 3 which is' mounted on a base 4. An adjustable torque pul1ey`5 is at tache'd to the upper end'of shaft 2 and a sheave ponent 3d to the body portion 2| while the lrecio- 5o 6 is keyed to the lower end of the shaft. A- forked member 1' is secured near the top of column 2 and has journalled therein a reciprocating spin dle 8. A sheave 9 is mounted on spindle 8 and is conned between the fork in member I. A V-belt Iu interconnects pulley 5 and sheave 9 and imparts rotation to the spindle 8. Spindle 8 actuates a chuckII and is adapted to reciprocate with respect to member 1 and sheave 9 in a manner which will be more fully described in another part of the specilication. A bifurcated support I2 is secured to the column 3 adjacent sheave B and has journalled therein a rotataable clutch I3 provided with a drive sheave I4. Sheave I4 is coupled to sheave 6 by V-belt I5. A chuck IB is journalled'in the top of the bifurcated support I2. Clutch i3 transmits rotation to the interconnected chuck I6 which is provided with a slip clutch which Wil be described later.

Surrounding sheave I4 and the chuck I6 is a metal guard I'I which has a nat top I8 having an aperture I9 over the chuck. Top I 8 is lo' cated at a convenient height to make a satisfacftory work table. Mounted on the top I8 is a work holder 2U forengaging the body portion `2I of an object to be assembled.- The lower portion of the guard IIv communicates with an explosion chamber 22 which rests on the base 4. A wrought iron pipe serves very satisfactorily as an explosion chamber. A treadle 23 is coupled to a rotarvv Valve 24 which is connected to a reciprocating duid motor 25-by suitable conduits 26.` Motor-25 is located on column 3. A pistonvrod 21 on motor 25 is attached through a link '28 having a resilient connector 2s lto an arm 30 which is pivoted vto anv upright 3I on the column v3. Arm 3l) has a forked end 32 which engages the upper end of' ashoe 33 which is coupled to the spindle 8. The shoe 33 permits the spindle adapted 'to reciprocate it when the arm 3U is oscillated by the reciprocating motor 25 through link-j age 21; 28,-and 29.

Work holder 2u is conformed to receive and holdl nxed the body portion 2-I of a partially as-A sembled composite work piece. I6 receives and tightens the base or socket coinrocating chuck I I engages and tightens the upper. component or head 35 to the body 2'I. Sheet metal guards 36 and31 are attached in `any convenient manner to the column 3 and enclose the othermoving elements,` ofl the ma chine.'

to rotate and isvv The lower chuckl The adjustable torque pulley 5 comprises a sheave 38 which is rotatably mounted on a anged bushing 39 which is secured to the drive shaft 2 of the motor by fasteners 40, see Fig. 2. Friction rings 4| separate the sheave from the flanged portion of the bushing 39 and also from a nut 42 which is threaded on the sleeve portion of the bushing and locked thereto by a set screw 43. Coiled springs 44 rest in bores 45 in the nut 42 and are compressed against the upper set of friction rings 4| by adjusting screws 46.

' Torque is transmitted to the driven sheave 38 in a manner well known concerning slip clutches. The springs 44 may be loaded to the desired extent and thereby regulate the torque necessary to cause the driven sheave to slip.

A bushing 41 is press tted in the bore 41' in the hub of sheave 9 and is journalled in a pair of anti-friction bearings 48 mounted in the fork of member 1. The bushing 41 is provided with pairs of spaced recesses 49 which receive portions of ball bearings 50 which ride in longitudinal splineways 5| in the spindle 8. As sheave 9 is rotated, the ball bearing coupling imparts rotation to the spindle 8 and also permits the spindle to be reciprocated relative to the bushing 41 and the attached sheave. The forked end 32 of arm 30 engages the shoe 33 through a pivot pin 52 which rests in a pair of aligned apertures 53 in the forked end 32, see Figs. 1 and 2. Shoe 33 forms the outer member of an antifriction bearing race which has its inner portion 54 secured to a cylindrical shank 55 on the end of spindle 8. A nut 56 and a washer 51 secure ,the shank 55 to the inner portion 54 of the bearing race. This coupling between the arm 30 and the spindle 8 permits the arm 30 to oscillate and impart reciprocation to the spindle 8 and also allows the spindle to rotate at the same time.

Chuck is adapted to engage the head 35 of an article being assembled when the spindle 8 is depressed. Screwed into the base of the spindle is a chuck driver 58 which has spaced depending wedge members 59 with internally disposed cam faces 60, see Figs. 2 and 8. An apertured disk 6| is free to rotate on the spindle 8 above the driver 58 and is secured to a cylindrical cover 62 which has an inwardly directed annular flange 63 at its lower or open end. A pair of semi-cylindrical segmental jaws 64 are located Within the cover 62 and are provided with inclined notches 65 which engage the wedge members 59. The jaws 64 are provided with recesses 56 which retain a pair of expanding springs 61, see Fig. 7. These springs normally separate the jaw segments so as to maintain a slight gap 68 between the adjacent faces. A pair of spaced guide pins 69 ride in bores 10 in the jaw segments so as to maintain them parallel at all times, see Fig. 6. Arcuate gripping elements 1| are demountably attached to the individual jaw members by suitable fasteners 12. The upper portion of each gripping element is provided with a. flange 13 (see Figs-2 and 8) which is engaged by the lower end of a coil spring 14 which also bears on the central portion of the driver 58. Spring 14 urges the jaws 64 downward against the ilange'63 on the cover 62 while the expanding springs 61 force the jaws apart. When relative movement occurs between the jaws 64 and the driver 58, the cam faces 60 on the wedge members 59 riding in the notches 65 force the jaws 62 inwardly against the residence of springs 61 and clamp a piece of work therein.

The work holder 20 is a U-shaped member atacar/,672

tached to the top I8 by convenient fasteners 15, see Figs. 9 and 10. A pair of keys 16 are secured to the arms of member 20 by fasteners 11. These keys project into the notch of the U and are 5 adapted to engage a pair of notches 18 in the body portion 2| of a work piece. When the keys engage these notches in the work piece, it is held securely against rotation.

The lower arm of bifurcated support I2 has a l0v vertical bore 19 which receives a hollow spindle 80 that is secured therein by a set screw 8|, see Fig. 2. The inner portion of a bearing race 82 is press tted on the neck 83 of the spindle 80 which projects beyond the support, and the outer portion of the race is press fitted in a central bore 84 of the sheave I4. A friction ring 85 is secured to the upper face of the sheave by fasteners 86.

The upper arm of the support I2 is provided lwith a bore 81 which has press tted therein a -bearing sleeve 88. Within 1the sleeve 88 is journalled an elongated hollow spindle 89 which has a threaded base 90 and a flanged top 9|. A clutch plate 92 is fastened to the threaded base 90. ,Encircling spindle 89 and resting on the anged top 88 of the bearing sleeve 88 is a friction or brake ring 93, see Figs. 2 and 4. A cupshaped release bushing 94 surrounds the neck 95 of spindle 89 and is held in engagement with the bottom of flange 9| by expanding springs 98.

Release bushing 94 is adapted to rotate independently of spindle 89. Pins 91 rest in aligned bores 98 in the bushing 94 and the friction ring 93 and prevent relative rotation between those members, see Fig. 2. Secured to the release bushing 94 by threads 99 and a lock fastener |00 is a cup-shaped head |0| provided with a central work receiving bore |02. .Within the cup is a friction ring |03 which rests on the anged top 9| of spindle 89. The friction ring |03 is secured against rotation independent of the head |0I by spaced pins |04 which rest in bores |05 and |06 in the head and friction ring respectively, see Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Bores |01 in the top of head I0| receive rubber blocks |08 which are compressed to the desired degree by adjusting screws |09 in the upper ends of the bores, see Figs. 2 and 3. Fasteners ||0 secure a pair of keys III to the top of the head |0I, see Figs. 3 and 4. These keys are adapted to engage a pair of notches I|2 in the base or socket portion 34 of a work piece which is to be assembled, see Figs. 11 and 12. The expanding springs 96 normally act to lift the release bushing 94, the spindle 89, and the head assembly upward so that clutch plate 92 is separated from the friction ring 85 on the sheave I4.

The operation of the device is as follows: The head 35 and the base or socket 34 are manually' started on the body 2| approximately one turn each. The work piece is then placed in the work holder 20 so that the keys 16 are in engagement with the notches 18 to secure the body 2| against rotation. The base 34 of the work piece extends into bore |02 in the lower chuck I6. Since the o5 motor is running continuously, the operator then opens valve 24 by tilting the treadle 23. Fluid motor 25 is thereby actuated to depress link 28 and consequently the pivoted arm 30 swings downward. Spindle 8 is being rotated as it descendsand presents chuck to the head 35 of the workpiece.

The gripping elements 1| in the upper chuck come into engagement with the head 35 and as the chuck driver 58 continues to descend, the segmental jaws 64 are advanced inwardly by the cam faces 60 on the wedge members 59. Springs 6l and 'I4 are compressed during this operation. The head 35 is eventually held rmly by the jaws B4 so that it may be tightened on the body 2|.

Downward movement of chuck II shortly after it comes in contact with the head 35 forces the socket 36 further into the bore |02 of the lower chuck I0. Keys III slip into the notches I|2 in the socket and hold it securely. Further depression of the work piece forces the lower chuck head IOI, the release bushing 94, and the hollow spindle 99 downward against the resistance of springs 99 and brings the clutch plate 92 into engagement with the friction ring 85 on the drive sheave I 4. The lower chuck I6 and the socket 34 now secured therein are put into rotation and both the head and socket are tightened on the body of the work piece.

When the head 35 is tightened the required degree, the spindle 8 and chuck II cease to rotate because slip occurs in the adjustable torque pulley 5. Therefore excessive torque cannot be applied so as to injure the head and the body of the work piece.

The socket 39 is threaded on the body 2| by the lower chuck until a predetermined torque is reached whereupon slip occurs between the ilange 9| on the driving spindle 39 and the driven head IOI. The chuck I ceases to rotate indicating the assembly operation is complete.

The operator then reverses valve 24, and the fluid motor 25 through its connecting linkage elevates or retracts the spindle 8 and the vupper chuck II. The spring 'I4 and the expanding springs 61 force the jaw segments 64 downwardly and outwardly whereupon further movement is restricted by the annular flange 63 on the cover 62 of the chuck. The head is then released from the chuck which moves out of the way of the operators hands.

When chuck II ceases to exert its downward thrust on the work piece, the springs 96 in the lower chuck I 3 force the head I0|, the release bushing 94, and the hollow spindle 89 upward thus disenga-ging the clutch plate 92 from the continuously rotating sheave I4. Since the springs 90 push downward on the brake ring 93 which is in engagement with the flange 88 of the rlxed bearing sleeve 88, a braking effort is also imparted to the hollow spindle 89 which is still spinning from its own momentum. This braking eiort is transmitted through the release bushing 94,.,the loaded rubber blocks |09 in head IOI, and the friction ring |03 which engages the top of the flange 9| on the spinning spindle 8| This arrangement thereby performs the double function of disengaging the clutch andbraking the spin:

ning parts. Bringing the lower chuck to rest as quickly as possible expedites production by permitting an additional work piece to be safely inserted in the work holderas soon as the preceding one was removed after assembling.

The resilient connection 29 in the link 20 is designed to prevent an excessive force from being applied to a work piece by the chuck I in the event that the work piece is misplaced in the holding fixture.

thus confining it to the explosion chamber where 1 it is harmlessly expended.

.The adjustable torque members in the drive prevent the assembling of distorted or imperfectly threaded objects.

We claim:

1. In a machine for assembling parts of ordnance loaded with explosive, a hollow spindle, a work holding chuck mounted on the spindle and having an opening communicating with one end of the opening through the spindle, a guard surrounding the spindle and chuck and deiining an explosion chamber, and a second explosion chamber communicating with the rst and located in position to receive the gases of an explosion from the hollow spindle and the rst mentioned chamber.

2. In a device for assembling threaded Work pieces, a reciprocable and rotatable spindle having a work holder for one of said pieces comprising laterally movable non-reciprocable springbacked jaws having oppositely disposed cam surfaces and a jaw operating member rigidly and directly connected to said spindle having correspondingly shaped wedge members cooperating with said jaws to close them yieldingly against said springs upon the downward movement of said spindle to grip the work piece and adapted also to release said piece upon the upward movement of the spindle, and a second spindle below and axially in line with the first and having means for holding another of said work pieces.

PASQUALE V. DI COSMO. l MATTHEW C. RICCIARDI. 

